How These Female Entrepreneurs Turned Their Careers Into Success & Financial Freedom

After a fulfilling 15-year career in finance, working with institutions like HSBC, Barclays and Zurich Insurance, Amrita Sethi felt a deep need to explore her creativity. “I had a successful career in banking and insurance, but I knew there was something more for me. A spiritual mentor helped shift my perspective, and my personal struggles, including a 12-year journey to motherhood, became the catalyst for my art.” 

That journey led to the creation of SoundBYTEs, an innovative fusion of sound and visual art. “I wanted to combine my analytical side with creativity. My art transforms sound waves into visual narratives, bridging tradition with technology.” 

A defining moment came in 2019 when she showcased the world’s first voice-generated art installation at Art Dubai. “That exposure not only validated my artistic direction but also led to further opportunities, including being selected for Expo 2020 and creating one of the largest augmented reality murals at DIFC.”

Her Best Money Moves

Beyond her art business, Amrita believes in a diversified investment strategy, balancing traditional assets like stocks and real estate with digital assets, including NFTs and cryptocurrency. “Embracing digital platforms early on was one of my smartest financial decisions. The decentralised nature of blockchain excites me because it gives artists new platforms and revenue streams.” 

Her approach to investing is holistic. “I believe in balancing risk with informed decision-making. I was overly cautious early in my career, and I missed opportunities. Now, I stay open to emerging industries while still securing my financial foundation.” 

For women looking to build wealth, her advice is clear: "Understanding and actively managing your money is empowering. Women should confidently engage in financial planning and investment decisions rather than shying away from them. You don’t need to have all the answers, but start learning, start investing and trust the process.”

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For Nadia Zaal, entrepreneurship wasn’t just about success. It was about proving to herself that she could do it alone. “In the beginning, what drove me was insecurity and a deep urge to prove I didn't need a man – dad or husband. But over time, that motivation evolved. I became obsessed with the impact my business was having, not just on my clients but on my team and myself.” 

She launched her first business with less than $100,000, relying on sheer grit to make things work. “It wasn’t glamorous. I had to dig deep, manage my mindset and embrace failure as part of the process. There was no safety net, just a vision I wholeheartedly believed in.” 

A defining moment came during the 2009 financial crisis, which forced her to adapt and hustle in ways she never expected. “I thought the start-up struggle was behind me, but suddenly, there was no money. I had to scale back, hustle and make things work. I was paying plumbers on day rates, getting them food and buying toilets one by one because I couldn’t afford to hire a proper contractor. I had no idea what I was doing, but stopping was never an option in my mind.” 

As her business grew, she realised she valued autonomy over partnerships. “I moved away from working with partners and started building my own vision. It’s been about learning what truly aligns with me, and now I’m excited to push the boundaries within the education industry, while still making an impact.” 

Nadia first entered the crypto space in 2018, but not intentionally. “I got into crypto by default when the real estate market was not doing so well. I was happy to sell real estate in crypto, and then I just kept it – it wasn’t intentional.” While she acknowledges the volatility, she believes it’s a long-term game. “If you do your research, like anything, it’s safe. I believe crypto will gain momentum even more.”

Looking ahead, she sees crypto reshaping finance by making it more decentralized and accessible. “It has immense potential for growth. The key is balancing it with traditional systems to create a stable financial ecosystem.”

For those new to crypto, her advice is simple: start small and educate yourself. “Read books, talk to people who’ve been in space and soak up their insights. If you dip your toes in, treat it as a learning curve. It’s all about building confidence through knowledge.”

Her Best Money Moves

When it comes to investing, Nadia takes big risks and trusts her instincts. “I’m all in with my business. I don’t spread myself too thin. I focus on real estate and business growth because they let me shape outcomes directly and see the impact unfold.” 

She believes in making financial decisions based on people, not just numbers. "When I invest in stocks or companies, I don’t just look at the numbers – I look at the people behind them. A company’s success is directly tied to its leadership, and for me, investing is about backing the right people just as much as the right business model.”

At the same time, she understands the importance of knowing when to cut losses. “Never take money from a profitable venture to fund one that’s failing – it’s one of the biggest mistakes an entrepreneur can make. Fiscal discipline is about knowing when to let go of what’s not working instead of draining resources from what is.” 

For women looking to take control of their finances, her biggest lesson is simple: “Be disciplined about taking money out of your business, even if it’s a tiny amount. We build businesses to provide for ourselves, so don’t wait too long to start balancing personal wealth with business investments.” 

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